Vote Smart provides easy access to congressional and state voting records and maintains a collection of key votes grouped by issue. Vote Smart uses the following criteria to select key votes:
Vote Smart provides a summary of the version of the bill text associated with each selected key vote. Our summaries are written by Vote Smart's staff and interns, who adhere to our strict policies and procedures in order to guarantee absolute impartiality and accuracy. They do not necessarily reflect the content of the final version of the bill, but rather the version voted on in that stage. While many procedural votes take place before a full chamber vote, our voting stages reflect the final reading of each chamber vote. Each key vote selection is reviewed by the project's community of advisors, who are political scientists and journalists from all fifty states.
For more information about the legislative process, see here.
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 1, 2021 | NC | SB 43 | Establishes Churches With Schools Have the Right to Bear Arms | Bill Passed - Senate (31 - 18) |
| March 1, 2021 | MT | SB 215 | Limits State and Local Governmental Authority Over a Religious Activity | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24) |
| March 1, 2021 | WA | HB 1411 | Prohibits the Automatic Disqualification of Individuals with Criminal Records from Providing Care to Vulnerable Adults or Children | Bill Passed - House (58 - 39) |
| March 1, 2021 | WA | SB 5164 | Authorizes Resentencing of Certain Individuals Charged With Robbery | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 21) |
| Feb. 27, 2021 | VA | HB 2004 | Requires Releasing Records From Closed Criminal Investigations | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Feb. 27, 2021 | VA | SJ 272 | Amends the Qualifications to Vote | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17) |
| Feb. 27, 2021 | VA | HJ 555 | Extends Voting Rights to Citizens on Parole | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 18) |
| Feb. 27, 2021 | VA | HB 1909 | Establishes Gun-Free Zones on School Board Property | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (21 - 17) |
| Feb. 27, 2021 | VA | HJ 555 | Extends Voting Rights to Citizens on Parole | Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 40) |
| Feb. 27, 2021 | VA | SJ 272 | Amends the Qualifications to Vote | Conference Report Adopted - House (56 - 40) |
| Feb. 27, 2021 | WA | HB 1054 | Prohibits Chokeholds, No-Knock Warrants, and Other Police Tactics | Bill Passed - House (54 - 43) |
| Feb. 26, 2021 | MD | SB 218 | Extends the Earned Income Tax Credit to Undocumented Immigrants | Bill Passed - House (91 - 44) |
| Feb. 25, 2021 | NH | HB 197 | Expands "Stand Your Ground" Laws | "Ought to Pass" Report Adopted - House (206 - 144) |
| Feb. 25, 2021 | National | HR 5 | Equality Act | Bill Passed - House (224 - 206) |
| Feb. 25, 2021 | MT | HB 427 | Prohibits Gender Transition Medical Procedures for Transgender Minors | Bill Passed - House (60 - 38) |
| Feb. 25, 2021 | WA | SB 5051 | Expands the Role of the State's Law Enforcement Oversight Agency | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 19) |
| Feb. 25, 2021 | WA | SB 5038 | Prohibits Open Carry Near the State Capitol or Public Demonstrations | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20) |
| Feb. 25, 2021 | SD | HB 1075 | Repeals Any Federal or State Court Action Reducing Firearm or Ammunition Rights | Bill Passed - House (59 - 7) |
| Feb. 25, 2021 | National | HR 5 | Equality Act | Bill Passed - House (224 - 206) |
| Feb. 25, 2021 | GA | HB 218 | Requires the State to Recognize Gun Carry Permits from Other States | Bill Passed - House (103 - 69) |
| Feb. 25, 2021 | CA | AB 133 | Expands Medi-Cal Eligibility to Low-Income Adults Regardless of Immigration Status | Bill Passed - House (56 - 18) |
| Feb. 25, 2021 | OH | HB 9 | Prohibits Selling Dextromethorphan Without a Prescription | Bill Passed - House (87 - 7) |
| Feb. 24, 2021 | AR | SB 24 | Expands "Stand Your Ground" Laws | Bill Passed - House (72 - 23) |
| Feb. 24, 2021 | AZ | HB 2551 | Authorizes Individuals with Concealed Carry Permits to Enter Most Buildings with Firearms | Bill Passed - House (31 - 29) |
| Feb. 24, 2021 | CT | HB 6515 | Prohibits Discrimination Based on Hairstyle | Bill Passed - House (138 - 9) |